Adjustable waist band

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of apparatus, methods, systems and apparel are described herein for tightening a waist band. In various embodiments, apparel may include a waist band. In various embodiments, apparel also may include an elongate tab having a first end fixed to an outer surface of the waist band and a second end, opposite the first end, that is selectively attachable to multiple portions of a fastening member extending along an outside side or front surface of the waist band. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/405,118 entitled “WAIST BAND ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM,” filed Oct. 20, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments herein relate generally to apparel, and in particular to adjustable waist bands for use with apparel or garments such as snow pants, trousers, skirts, athletic wear, outer wear, and the like.

BACKGROUND

The cut of many pants, trousers, and skirts, for men, women, and children, results in a waist band which is positioned approximately at the waist of the wearer, e.g., at or just above the wearer's hips. Whether or not a belt is worn, the weight of the trousers generally is supported from the waist band. The waist band may be tightened against the torso and/or hips sufficiently to support the trousers, or the trousers will have a tendency to slip down. Belts can be uncomfortable when cinched around the waist, and can cause the trousers to bunch or hang in an unsightly fashion.

Some pants may incorporate adjustable fit features in order to comfortably fit a variety of waist sizes. For instance, some children's pants include interior elastic members that allow a parent to adjust the fit of the waist band. However, such elastic adjustment systems typically include buttons and/or elastic components that may come into contact with the skin and may be uncomfortable. Such adjustment systems typically also require adult assistance to fasten.

Similarly, some comfort pants and athletic wear may include one or more elastic bands or panels that allow the garment to be worn by people having different waist sizes. However, these panels may distort the shape of the garment and cause bunching or gapping. Moreover, these bands or panels may be difficult to adjust using one hand or while wearing gloves or mittens.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a rear view of an example of an adjustable waist band system, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of an adjustable waist band system with an elongate tab uncoupled from its fastening member, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of an adjustable waist band system with an elongate tab uncoupled from its fastening member and in an extended position, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of an adjustable waist band system with an elongate tab coupled to a fastening member, in accordance with various embodiments; and

FIG. 5 illustrates an example method of tightening a waist band, in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scopes of embodiments, in accordance with the present disclosure, are defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments of the present disclosure; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent.

The description may use perspective-based descriptions such as up/down, back/front, and top/bottom. Such descriptions are merely used to facilitate the discussion and are not intended to restrict the application of embodiments of the present disclosure.

The terms “coupled” and “connected,” along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Rather, in particular embodiments, “connected” may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. “Coupled” may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. However, “coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other.

For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “A/B” or in the form “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “at least one of A, B, and C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “(A)B” means (B) or (AB) that is, A is an optional element.

The description may use the phrases “in an embodiment,” or “in embodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of the present disclosure, are synonymous.

In various embodiments, a waist band adjustment system is disclosed that may be used in conjunction with garments like athletic wear, such as ski pants, where gapping might admit snow or rain, as well as in jeans, casual pants, dress pants, trousers, athletic pants, and the like. The adjustable waist band system may be useful in many circumstances where an adjustable fit is advantageous, such as to provide growth adaptability in children's clothes, to customize fit in adult clothes, and/or to prevent gapping at the waist.

In various embodiments, the adjustable waist band system may include one or more elongate pieces of material, generally referred to herein as “elongate tabs,” which may couple to and extend generally from a rear portion of a garment's waist band, for instance at or near the center back seam of the waist band. When in use, an elongate tab may extend at least partially around the waist band and toward the front of the garment. In various embodiments, the elongate tab may generally be shaped to conform to an outer contour of the waist band, and may include one or more ends that are configured to be coupled in a detachable fashion (e.g., with a hook and loop closure such as Velcro™, or another type of fastening member, such as a snap, button, hook, or any other type of textile fastener) to an outside surface of the waist band (e.g., a side and/or front outside surface of the waist band). In various embodiments, the fit of the waist band may be easily adjusted to be looser or tighter depending on how far toward the front center seam of the garment the one or more elongate tabs are coupled. Thus, when fastened to the outside surface of the waist band, the system may provide a customized fit that allows for sufficient tension against the waist of the wearer to keep the garment in a desired position, while also providing a smooth contour to the waist band of the garment without gapping, sagging, or bunching.

In some embodiments, one or more retaining members (such as loops, for example) may be provided to retain the elongated tab in a desired position along the waist band. For instance, in some embodiments, the system may be positioned over the hips of the wearer to avoid bunching, for instance as may occur when a belt is used to cinch in the waist band of a pair of over-large pants. The elongate tab may also include an elastic member that may permit the tab to stretch and provide greater comfort and fit adjustability. In some embodiments, the elastic member may be covered by and/or encased in fabric. In some embodiments, the fabric cover and/or elastic may be water-resistant or waterproof, for instance to prevent the entry of snow or water between the waist band and the body of the wearer. In some embodiments, the fabric may be a loose piece, and in other embodiments it may be an extension of the apparel. In some embodiments, the fabric covering the elongate tab may match, coordinate with, or comprise the same fabric as the rest of the garment.

Referring to FIG. 1, in various embodiments, expandable waist band system 10 may include one or more elongate tabs 12 having a first end 13 that may be secured to and extend from a rear portion 16 of the garment's waist band 18, for instance at or near the center back seam 20 of waist band 18. In various embodiments, elongate tab 12 may also include a second end 15 (see FIGS. 2-4), opposite first end 13, that may be selectively attachable to multiple portions of a fastening member 14 (see FIG. 4) extending along an outside side or front surface of waist band 18. In various embodiments, elongate tab 12 may extend at least partially around an outside surface 17 of waist band 18 and toward the sides and/or front 22 of the garment (see, e.g., FIG. 4). In some embodiments, elongate tab 12 may generally be shaped to conform to an outer contour of waist band 18, and may be, for example, oblong, curved, rectangular, trapezoidal, arcuate, or any other shape that may closely match a desired waist contour.

In various embodiments, elongate tab 12 may include a fixed portion 24 adjacent first end 13 and a detachable portion 26 that includes second end 15. In some embodiments, detachable portion 26 may be configured to couple in a detachable fashion to a fastening member 14 (for example, with a hook and loop closure such as Velcro™, as shown in FIG. 4) on outside surface 17 of waist band 18. In various embodiments, elongate tab 12 may include a length 32 that includes both fixed portion 24 and detachable portion 26, and in some embodiments, length 32 may also include an elastic portion 34. Elastic portion 34 may be configured to provide elasticity to elongate tab 12, such that tension on detachable portion 26 may increase length 32 and allow elongate tab 12 to assume an extended position, as shown in FIG. 3. When in such an extended position, elongate tab 12 may extend farther around the side and toward front 22 of waist band 18, and may cover more of waist band 18 when so coupled to fastening member 14.

In some embodiments, one or more retaining members 36 (for instance, loops) may be provided to retain elongate tabs 12 in a desired position along waist band 18. For instance, in some embodiments, retaining members 36 may retain elongate tab 12 low about the waist and/or hips of a wearer. Additionally, in some embodiments, elastic portion 34 may be covered by fabric, and in particular embodiments the fabric cover and/or elastic portion 34 may be water-resistant or waterproof. In such an embodiment, not only may adjustable waist band system 10 prevent the entry of snow or water between waist band 18 and the body of a wearer, but it also may prevent waist band 18 from absorbing water, for instance during winter sports such as skiing. The fabric covering elongate tabs 12 may match or be the same fabric as the rest of the garment.

In some embodiments, after elongate tab 12 is extended as shown in FIG. 3, if second end 15 is released before being secured to fastening member 14, tension in elastic portion 34 may cause elongate tab 12 to whip or otherwise move quickly towards a rear of waist band 18. However, retaining members 36 may cover only small portions of elongate tab 12. Moreover, there may be little or no sleeve portion that contains elongate tab 12 near first end 13. Accordingly, unlike a drawstring contained within a sleeve that wraps around a portion of a waist band, elongate tab 12 may be easily and freely accessible even after a wearer accidently looses his or her grip on second end 15 when adjusting a tightness of waist band 18.

As shown in FIG. 4, in various embodiments, the fit of adjustable waist band system 10 may be adjusted to be looser or tighter depending on how far elongated tab 12 is extended toward front 22 of the garment and where detachable portion 26 is coupled to waist band 18. For instance, in the illustrated embodiment, fastening members 14 extend at least partially along a front and/or side portion of waist band 18, and in some embodiments may extend along the full length of waist band 18. Thus, in various embodiments, detachable portion 26 of elongate tab 12 may be coupled to waist band 18 at any desired point. In some embodiments, elongate tab 12 may be coupled along the side of waist band 18 (e.g., near the hip of a wearer) for a looser fit as shown in FIG. 4, or it may be stretched around to front 22 of waist band 18 to couple to and cover a greater portion of fastening member 14. In such an extended position, adjustable waist band system 10 may provide a tighter fit.

In use, the fit of adjustable waist band system 10 may be easily adjusted by the wearer, and such adjustments may be made single-handedly, while wearing gloves or carrying equipment, or by children without adult assistance. For instance, in various embodiments, to create a tighter fit, a wearer need only detach detachable portion 26 from fastening member 14, apply tension to elongated tab 12 to stretch elastic portion 34, and reattach detachable portion 26 to fastening member 14 closer to front 22 of the garment. Likewise, in various embodiments, to create a looser fit, a wearer need only detach detachable portion 26 from fastening member 14, reduce tension on elongate tab 12 to allow elastic portion 34 to retract, and reattach detachable portion 26 to fastening member 14 farther from front 22 of the garment. This ease of adjustment may permit the fit of the garment to be adjusted in any environment, and the resulting fit is customizable to suit the needs of the wearer. Such adjustability allows the wearer to achieve a snug yet comfortable fit, with little to no gapping, particularly at the back of the waist band. Additionally, because the adjustable waist band system 10 is located on the outside surface of waist band 18, it does not chafe or otherwise irritate the skin of the wearer.

An example method for tightening apparel having a waist band is shown in FIG. 5, in accordance with various embodiments. At 502, one end of an elongate tab may be detached from a fastening member on an outside side or front surface of the waist band. At 504, the one end of the elongate tab may be pulled around a side of and toward a front of the apparel to increase a tightness of the waist band. At 506, the one end of the elongate tab may be attached to the fastening member to maintain the tightness of the waist band.

Although certain embodiments disclosed herein describe an elongate tab attached toward the rear of the garment, in alternative embodiments, a tab may be attached toward the front of a garment and tightness of the waist band may be increased by pulling the tab toward and/or around the side of the garment and attaching the tab further away from the center of the waist band

Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent embodiments or implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Those with skill in the art will readily appreciate that embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure may be implemented in a very wide variety of ways. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof. 

1. An adjustable waist band system, comprising: an elongate tab having a first end secured to a waist band and a second end, opposite the first end, that is selectively attachable to a fastening member on an outside surface of the waist band.
 2. The adjustable waist band system of claim 1, wherein the second end is selectively attachable to multiple portions of the fastening member.
 3. The adjustable waist band system of claim 2, wherein the fastening member comprises an elongate hook-and-loop closure strip extending along the waist band.
 4. The adjustable waist band system of claim 3, wherein the second end includes a hook-and-loop closure portion configured to be selectively attachable to multiple portions of the elongate hook-and-loop closure string to adjust a tightness of the waist band.
 5. The adjustable waist band system of claim 1, wherein the elongate tab further comprises an elastic portion between the first end and the second end.
 6. The adjustable waist band system of claim 5, wherein the elastic portion is covered by fabric.
 7. The adjustable waist band system of claim 6, wherein the fabric covering the elastic portion is waterproof.
 8. The adjustable waist band system of claim 1, wherein the first end of the elongate tab is secured to the waist band at or near a rear portion of the waist band.
 9. The adjustable waist band system of claim 8, wherein the first end of the elongate tab is secured to the waist band at or near a center back seam of the waist band.
 10. The adjustable waist band system of claim 8, wherein the fastening member is sized and positioned on the outside surface of the waist band so that the waist band becomes tighter as the second end is selectively attached to positions on the fastening member closer to a front portion of the waist band.
 11. The adjustable waist band system of claim 8, wherein the fastening member is sized and positioned on the outside surface of the waist band so that the waist band becomes looser as the second end is selectively attached to positions on the fastening member closer to a front portion of the waist band.
 12. The adjustable waist band system of claim 8, wherein the fastening member is sized and positioned on the outside surface of the waist band so that the waist band becomes looser as the second end is selectively attached to positions on the fastening member further from a front portion of the waist band.
 13. The adjustable waist band system of claim 1, wherein the elongate tab is freely accessible from the second end to adjacent the first end.
 14. An article of apparel comprising: a waist band; and an elongate tab having a first end fixed to an outer surface of the waist band and a second end, opposite the first end, that is selectively attachable to multiple portions of a fastening member extending along an outside side or front surface of the waist band.
 15. The article of apparel of claim 14, wherein the fastening member is sized and positioned on the outside surface of the waist band so that the waist band becomes tighter as the second end of the elongate tab is pulled toward the front surface of the waist band.
 16. The article of apparel of claim 14, wherein the fastening member is sized and positioned on the outside surface of the waist band so that the waist band becomes looser as the second end of the elongate tab is selectively attached to positions on the fastening member further from the front surface of the waist band.
 17. The article of apparel of claim 14, wherein the elongate tab further comprises an elastic portion.
 18. The article of apparel of claim 17, wherein the elastic portion of the elongate tab is encased in fabric.
 19. The article of apparel of claim 18, wherein the fabric covering the elastic portion is waterproof.
 20. A method of tightening apparel having a waist band, comprising: detaching one end of an elongate tab from a fastening member on an outside side or front surface of the waist band; pulling the one end of the elongate tab around or toward a side of the waist band to increase a tightness of the waist band; and attaching the one end of the elongate tab to the fastening member to maintain the tightness of the waist band. 